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Haunted Chamber 

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By GRACE GRISWOLD 




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New York: 
SAMUEL FRENCH, 
Publisher, 

28 West 38th Street. 


London: 

SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd., 
Publishers, 

26 Southampton Street, 
Strand, W.C. 2. 


















The 

Haunted Chamber 


A ROMANTIC COMEDY 
IN ONE ACT 


By 

GRACE GRISWOLD 

Author of “Billie’s First Love” and “His Japanese 

Wife” 


Copyright, 1905, by Grace Griswold, Under Title of 
“The Stolen Courtship” 

Revised, 1921, by Grace Griswold 

Copyright, 1921, by Samuel French 


All Rights Reserved 


New York 

SAMUEL FRENCH 
Publisher 

28-30 West 38th Street 


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London 

Samuel French, Ltd. 
Publisher 

26 Southampton St., Strand 



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“THE HAUNTED CHAMBER” is fully protected 
by copyright, and all rights reserved. 

Permission to act, read publicly, or to make any 
use of it must be obtained from Samuel French, 
28-30 West 38th Street, New York. 

It may be presented by amateurs upon payment of 
royalty of ten dollars each performance, payable to 
Samuel French one week before the date when the 
play is given. 

Professional rates quoted on application. 

Whenever this play is produced the following 
notice must appear on all programs, printing and 
advertising for the play: Produced by special ar¬ 
rangement with Samuel French of New York. 


Cover design by George Heppenstall. 


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SCENE DESIGN 

THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 








































CHARACTERS 


Lord Peter Monahan — The new lord—a debon¬ 
air young Irishman of the period, more Eng¬ 
lish than Irish, hozvcver, in manners and speech, 
as he was educated at Eton and Oxford and has 
spent most of his time since in England and on 
the Continent. He is about thirty and is thor¬ 
oughly sophisticated. He has no share in 
Hogan’s delusions concerning the Haunted 
Chamber, though he is somewhat affected by the 
mysterious happenings that follow, and by the 
end of the play is thoroughly in the atmosphere 
of the place . 

Lady Katherine— Distant cousin to Lord Peter, 
a typical Irish girl of beauty and charm. She 
is the product of a dual existence;—on the one 
hand, steeped in the traditions of the house, liv¬ 
ing in a halo of romance, shunning the dissi¬ 
pated associates of the late Lord of the castle, 
and dreading those of the new Lord, which she 
believes will be of the same kind—on the other 
hand, devoting herself untiringly to the allevi¬ 
ation of the condition of the tenantry, ground 
down by heartless overseers. 

Hogan— Usual type of upper Irish servant: respect¬ 
ful, but garrulous when allowed to be, infused 
with the unreasoning dog loyalty to his supe- 

3 


4 


THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 


riors, whether deserving or not, which is char¬ 
acteristic of the hereditary servant. 

Ghost of the Former Lady Katherine. 

NOTE.—The players should bear in mind that the 
Monologues are not soliloquies, but are ad¬ 
dressed to the ghost. 

SCENE REPRESENTS-^ 

Haunted room in Monahan Castle, at midnight. 

TIME—Present. 

ENTRANCES AND WALL FURNISHINGS— 

Walls tapestried, or panelled in oak. At cen¬ 
ter back, starting at the height of an old chest 
which stands against it, is a portrait of Lady 
Katherine in the costume of the Second Empire, 
with a scarf thrown back over her arms. She 
is stepping through parted portieres, which she 
holds back with her hands. The portrait is 
painted on scrim, so that the ghost figure may 
be seen through it at the finish, and the whole 
panel is made to slide away for the entrance of 
Lady Katherine. It should look quite dim and 
dusty. Behind the panel is a platform, the 
height of the chest, forming the floor of a small 
closet, hung in black. In front of this closet 
and back of the portrait is a pair of draped 
portieres like those in the picture. Panel must 
slide easily, and be manipulated from behind. 

Entrances are r.i and R.3, also through case¬ 
ment window which occupies most of the wall 
L. For backing, there should be a balcony bal¬ 
ustrade and drop showing trees and tops of tall 
shrubbery. 

Entrance R.3 is covered by portiere, r.i has 


THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 


5 


a door to lock. Between these entrances is a 
fireplace with high mantel and chimney sloping 
into wall. 

NOTE—The tapestried walls can be effectively faked 
by purple cheesecloth over figured wallpaper, 
or an old landscape painted set. 

COSTUMES— 

Lord Peter appears first in conventional eve¬ 
ning clothes. He changes from these to a cos¬ 
tume of the Second Empire, which he finds in 
the chest. If the suit is to be made, it will be 
effective to have a purple madder coat, lined 
with light gray over a vest of darker gray and 
the knee-breeches of rose madder. The coat 
is cut well open in the front with broad tails 
at the back, revers of gray, and rolling collar 
of the same. Sleeves are tight and set up at the 
shoulder. Vest is cut low, with revers. Fancy 
white shirt, with high rolling collar and small 
tie to match coat. Gray stockings and low-cut 
slippers. 

Lady Katherine’s dress can be of pale green 
taffeta, high-waisted and open down the front 
from the waist line, revealing a ruffled lace pet¬ 
ticoat. Belt and bow of Naples yellow. Skirt 
festooned in lace and yellow ribbon, with knots 
of lavendar, rose pink and Alice blue. Short, 
puffed sleeves. Dress buttons at the back. It is 
in one piece. 

Hogan —Either in uniform, or as conven¬ 
tional upper servant. 

Ghost —In chiffons vaguely suggesting Lady 
Katherine’s costume. 




THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 


Curtain goes up on a perfectly dark stage . Cathe¬ 
dral clock strikes 1 2. Flutter of lightning 
through casement windows L. reveals general 
outlines of room. Distant rumble of thunder, 
accompanied by echoing footsteps, as if coming 
down a long hall, are heard. All this must be 
deliberate. As the footsteps stop outside of 
door r.i, voice of Lord Peter is heard out¬ 
side. 

Lord Peter. Is this the room? Why don’t you 
open the door? 

Hogan. (Outside) By all the Saints, Lord 
Peter, if ye shtruck nie dead in me tracks, I couldn’t 
open that dure. 

Lord Peter. Probably not, if you were dead. 
Give me the keys. (Rattle of keys, door opens) 
Well, aren’t you going- to light me in? 

Hogan. (Chattering and shaking with fear) 
Y-yes, me Lord. 

(Enter Hogan, candle rocking and knees shaking to¬ 
gether; lights half up; places candle on table 
l.c. Swishing sound on balcony l. Lord Peter, 
meanwhile, has entered and Hogan, with a cry 
of terror, plunges into his arms in an effort to 
escape. Lord Peter deposits him in a chair 
r. of table, closes door and locks it.) 

7 


8 THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 

Lord Peter. You shall go when I tell you, not 
before. 

Hogan. You are a brave man, Lord Peter. 
Didn’t you hear that sound outside just now? 

Lord Peter. What sound? 

Hogan. Like the swish of skirts. By St. Pat¬ 
rick, it must have been the ghost of Lady Katherine 
herself. The clock struck 12 as we came along the 
hall. 

Lord Peter. (Looking around as if taking in 
the room for the first time ) What of that ? 

Hogan. Sure, and it’s the fatal hour that the 
ghost of Lady Katherine shteels along the balcony 
and enters this room, where she was so unhappy, 
poor soul. 

Lord Peter. You’re a fool. (Crosses to win¬ 
dow L.) 

Hogan. Yes, Lord Peter. 

(The wind begins to rise.) 

t 

Lord Peter. Our entrance startled the rooks. 
That was what you heard. 

Hogan. I hope so, Lord Peter. (Peering cau¬ 
tiously out of window; lightning flashes and he starts 
back with a cry of terror) 

Lord Peter. (Coming down back of table and 
lighting cigar ) I understand you served the old lord 
faithfully all your life. 

Hogan. Yes, me Lord, thank you, Sir. 

Lord Peter. And I hope you will be as faith¬ 
ful to me. 

Hogan. That I will, Lord Peter. 

(Goes over and prepares fire in fireplace.) 

Lord Peter. But this ghost business has got to 
stop. I am not going to have any dark corners or 


THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 


9 


useless rooms in my castle. If I send you to light a 
guest to this room, I expect you to do it without 
any of this nonsense. I am sleeping here to-night 
simply to prove that it is all poppycock. 

(Rising wind and nimble of thunder.) 

Hogan. Did you hear that, Lord Peter? 

Lord Peter. ( Going to window ) Yes, I heard 
the wind and the thunder. The moon will be out 
presently. 

Hogan. (Admiringly) You’re a brave man, 
Lord Peter. 

Lord Peter. Not at all, but with a little com¬ 
mon sense and this old friend of the family (Pour¬ 
ing out glass of whiskey ) I defy all the ghosts of 
Christendom. 

(Simultaneous flash of lightning and crash of thun¬ 
der, with rain and wind.) 

Hogan. (With great vehemence) Don’t drink 
to that blasphemous sintimint, Lord Peter, the spir¬ 
its of the departed are angry. 

Lord Peter. (Good-naturedly ) Very well, Ho¬ 
gan, to please you, we’ll make it a welcome to all 
the ghosts of the Monahans. 

Hogan. Heaven forbid, Lord Peter, would you 
turn Monahan Castle into a grave-yard? 

Lord Peter. Not that, either? Then here’s one 
that will surely please you. To the spirits—of good 
old Irish whisky. 

Hogan. Ah! Now ye’re talkin’! 

Lord Peter. (Holding up his glass and address¬ 
ing it) Good old Irish friend.. Joy of the joyous. 
Solace of the sorrowful. Binder of bonds and 
breeder of brawls. Inspiration and curse. Friend 
and enemy. What wit you have engendered! What 


10 


THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 


crimes you have provoked! What vistas of glory! 
What ashes of desolation! What exhilaration! 
What despair! What dreams and what nightmares! 
And—what a head in the morning! (Sits L. of, 
table ) 

Hogan. You’re a true Monahan, Lord Peter. 

Lord Peter. I hope to prove that I am. A lively 
tribe. Eh, Hogan? 

Hogan. So they were, Lord Peter, more shame 
to them. 

Lord Peter. (Sharp look from Lord Peter ) 
Eh- 

Hogan. Beggin’ your pardon, Sir. 

Lord Peter. You may go now. (Handing him 
keys ) 

Hogan. Yes, Lord Peter. (Going toward door) 
May heaven defend your Lordship and keep away 
the evil spirits. Good night, Lord Peter. 

Lord Peter. Good night, Hogan. Oh, Hogan. 

Hogan. (At door) Yes, me Lord. 

Lord Peter. Why did the little Lady Katherine 
refuse to see me this morning when I arrived? 

Hogan. (Evasively) She was not feeliiT real 
smart, Lord Peter. 

Lord Peter. Nonsense. I saw her soon after 
on her little bay mare, riding as if the Banshee were 
after her. She has avoided me, which seems a little 
ungrateful as I have written her that the death of 
the old Lord will make no difference so far as she 
is concerned, and that she is still to consider Mona¬ 
han Castle her home. She is quite alone in the 
world, I understand, and I desire to treat her like a 
brother. 

Hogan. (Coming c.) I fear you cannot do that, 
Lord Peter. Even the old Lord could not persuade 
her to meet strangers, yet she will wander about the 
castle at night, fearless as a cat. She has even been 
known to enter this room, though Heaven only 



THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 


ii 


knows how she gets in, for the door has never been 
opened since the murder till this day. 

Lord Peter. Does she know that I am here to¬ 
night ? 

Hogan. Indeed no, Lord Peter. Her ladyship’s 
rooms are next to these. She would be terrified if 
she knew you were so near. 

Lord Peter. Indeed. Am I such a monster? 

Hogan. Not that, Lord Peter. If you were the 
divil himself (Look from Lord Peter ), beggin’ your 
pardon, it would be all the same. Ever since the 
first Lady Katherine (Bozving ceremoniously to pic¬ 
ture), Heaven bless your beauteous ladyship—ever 
since poor Lady Katherine went mad afther her gal¬ 
lant young husband was killed on that very balcony 
by her father, the Monahan women have been a 
little peculiar here (Tapping his forehead) and they 
are more daft by night than by day, for it was at 
night that the poor young man met his doom—more 
shame to the violent old Lord. Never since that 
time has there been a happy marriage in this castle, 
and it is' said that only the kiss of true love will ever 
take the curse from the daughters of Monahan and 
lay the troubled ghost of poor old Lady Katherine. 
(As PIogan turns to salute the portrait again, a 
shadow passes over it, which throws him into an¬ 
other spasm of terror) Saints and angels defend 
us! Did you see her smile ? 

Lord Peter. (Rising and pouring out a drink) 
Here, here, Hogan, brace up. Drink to the repose 
of old Lady Katherine, it will steady your nerves. 

Hogan. I’ll do that, Lord Peter, with all me 
heart. ( Drinks and hands out glass for another) 

Lord Peter. And another to the little Lady 
Katherine. 

Hogan. Lord bless her little ladyship. .May the 
kiss of true love come speedily, with happiness for 
her and peace to castle Monahan. 


12 THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 

Lord Peter. I’ll join you in that toast, Hogan. 
(Drinking ) And another to the happy man who be¬ 
stows that blessing upon my pretty cousin. (Drinks) 
As pretty as her namesake, isn’t she, Hogan ? 
(Glancing at portrait) 

Hogan. The same, Lord Peter, they might be 
twins. 

Lord Peter. (Tord Peter’s potations have now 
taken the effect of putting him into a chivalrous 
frame of mind ) By Jove, he shall be worthy of 
her, or he shall share the fate of the first adven¬ 
turous wooer. ( Goes over to window) 

Hogan. And curse the poor old castle with an¬ 
other ghost? Wan’s enough, Lord Peter. ( Hogan 
also is beginning to loosen up and become garru¬ 
lous) Why not win her yourself ? Wasn’t the poor 
man a gallant young kinsman like yourself, and 
wasn’t his name Lord Peter Monahan, and wasn’t 
he handsome like your gracious Lordship? Never 
has Castle Monahan been blessed with a mas- 
ther so noble, so handsome, so ginerius, so 
—here’s to- (Holding out glass for an¬ 

other filling) 

Lord Peter. (With dignity ) That will do, 
Hogan, you may go. 

Hogan. Yes, Lord Peter. ( Starting to door and 
coming back) I don’t like to lave ye alone, Lord 
Peter. Heaven knows what thim spirits will do 
to ye. 

Lord Peter. (With a half smile) Which 
ones? 

Hogan. Both. If there’s a Monahan Ghost 
within smellin’ distance of that—ye won’t be lone¬ 
some. (Unlocks door and peers out) The hall is 
terrible dark, Lord Peter. 

Lord Peter. (Taking candle) I’ll light you to 
the landing. 



THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 13 

Hogan. You’ve a good heart, Lord Peter. 
Heaven bless your worship. 

(Exits, leaving door open. Retreating footsteps 
heard in passage. Room is left dark again, bat 
the moon, which has been showing fitfully, 
comes on gradually to full light through the 
window. The panel has slipped aside in the 
darkness and now ~eveals Lady Katherine 
peering into the room through the inner por¬ 
tieres, in the same costume and attitude as that 
of the portrait. After holding the pose for a 
moment, she jumps down onto the chest and 
from that to the floor. She is very light and 
elflike in her movements.) 

Lady Kath. (Curtseying to the picture which 
has slid back into place by means of a spring at 
the side, which she has pressed) Most gracious 
lady, did you think that I had forgotten you on this 
your hundredth anniversary ? But there are strange 
noises in the castle to-night. Sounds of revelry, as 
if from this very chamber. (Seeing glasses and de¬ 
canter on the table) Oh, it is true, Lord Peter has 
come back and you have drunk together on the very 
spot of your happiness and misery. (Taking up a 
glass and smelling it) Whisky—pough—how un¬ 
romantic. (Sniffing the air) And tobacco. Do 
ghosts leave tracks like these? It must be so, for 
no living soul but me would dare enter these rooms 
at night. (With excitement) The door is open! 
It has not been opened before for a 100 years. 
What a pity I have missed them. (To portrait) 
Oh, dear Lady Katherine, please come again and 
bring Lord Peter with you. See, I have put on 
your very costume in honor of the anniversary. 
(Sound of approaching footsteps off r.i. Lady 
Katherine listens for a moment, greatly fright- 


14 


THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 


ened. In a startled whisper) The step is heavy 
like a man’s and there is only one. (She tries to 
find spring to panel—misses it in her nervousness 
and runs to window, dropping her scarf as she goes. 
She exits by the down-stage part of the casement 
window and is flying past the other part when Lord 
Peter enters. He catches a glimpse of her, but she 
does not see him. Lights half up) 

Lord Peter. Saints and Martyrs! What was 
that? (Places candle on table, goes to window, 
looks out) Nothing there. (Picks up scarf, com¬ 
pares it with that in portrait. Leaves scarf on chest) 
Is Hogan right? (Pours out another drink) To 
your serene Ladyship. (Shivers. Goes over and 
lights fire. The fireplace should be deep so that a 
full glow can strike across the stage, casting hori¬ 
zontal shadows. Lord Peter stands for a moment 
with back to the fire and looking toward window , 
then his gaze wanders to the picture and chest) I 
wonder what’s in the chest ? Well, it’s mine, I have 
the right to know. By your leave, Lady. (To por¬ 
trait. Opens chest, puts scarf in and pulls out a 
male costume of the same period as that of Lady 
Katherine’s. Pointing to sword thrust) Do you 
see that, lady? Do you see what your gallant 
lover suffered for your sake? Thank God, 
those foolish days are over. Better to live for 
many loves than die for one. (Rumble of 
thunder) So you don’t believe me. Well then, let 
us have your arguments. I am open to conviction. 
(Pause) No? Very well. (Starts to replace cos¬ 
tume, then, as if a new thought has come to him) 
I’ll put this on and appear in the servants’ hall. If 
they want ghosts in this house, by Jove, they shall 
have them. (Exit R.3, taking candle and costume. 
Lights diminish) 

Lady Kath. (Peers through casement window, 
then steps inside. She carries covered basket) 


THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 


15 


Nobody here. It was foolish to be afraid. 
Forgive me, dear Lady Katherine, and I will 
atone for my inhospitality. (Curtseys to por¬ 
trait) Here is all my supper saved till now. 
(Removes glasses and smoking-set to small table 
L. ; takes out various dishes and arranges table, all 
with fluttering excitement, furtive glances and little 
starts. Brings candelabra from table up L. to sup¬ 
per table and lights candles. Goes up to portrait, 
touches spring. Panel moves aside; reaches in and 
brings out a flagon. Touches spring again and por¬ 
trait returns to place . Holding up flagon) The 
same in which you drank Lord Peter’s health a hun¬ 
dred years ago. (As she sets flagon on table a sud¬ 
den thought comes to her and she looks about room) 
My scarf is gone. The fire has been lighted. The 
door is locked again. Who says there are no 
ghosts? (Does a little mad dance around table, 
ending in a deep curtsey dozvn L.) Come to the 
feast. (As Lady Katherine rises, she faces Lord 
Peter across the room, who has entered at this 
moment in the costume which he took out zvith him. 
Breathlessly) Lord Peter. 

Lord Peter. (Bowing and coming dozvn) The 
same, Lady Katherine, and your humble servant. 
But may I ask how you know me? 

Lady Kath. By the costume. Sure and it’s be- 
comin\ (With a little touch of dialect and the en¬ 
dearing manner of the Irish) No wonder they 
called you a heart-breaker. 

Lord Peter. Thank you. (Crosses l.) 

Lady Kath. Aren’t you the darlin’ ghost? I 
thought I should be afraid of you, but I’m not a bit. 
(Goes over and looks out R.3J 

Lord Peter. I’m glad of that. 

Lady Kath. (Coming dozvn) Where is Lady 

Katherine ? 


16 THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 

Lord Peter. (Surprised) Lady Katherine? 

Lady Kath. Yes, isn’t she coming - ? 

Lord Peter. Yes—no—oh !—that is, she is in¬ 
disposed, but she knew you would be disappointed if 
we both stayed away, and wished me to entertain 
you in her stead. 

Lady Kath. Do ghosts get sick? 

Lord Peter. Oh, yes. Not physically, of course, 
but metaphysically. The anniversary is always a 
trying time for Lady Katherine. 

Lady Kath. (Sympathetically) Of course. 

Lord Peter, (indicating chair l. of table) 
Won’t you sit down? (Noticing supper for the first 
time) What’s all this? 

Lady Kath. (Sitting down) Oh, I brought 
that. I thought it would remind you of old times. 

Lord Peter. How thoughtful of you. (Sits r. 
of table) 

Lady Kath. I didn’t suppose you could eat any¬ 
thing, but- 

Lord Peter. On the contrary, we are sometimes 
permitted to come back and enjoy (Pointedly) all 
the privileges which we had formerly. 

Lady Kath. How jolly. 

Lord Peter. Yes, isn’t it? I haven’t eaten any¬ 
thing for a hundred years. 

Lady Kath. (Handing him plate of salad) 
How hungry you must be! But I vow you haven’t 
gone that long without drinking and smoking, Lord 
Peter. 

Lord Peters What makes you think so? (Put¬ 
ting his hand to mouth as if worried about his 
breath ) 

Lady Kath. (Points to drinking and smoking 
set on other table) I found those. Now confess, 
Lady Katherine was here with you and the whisky 
and tobacco on such an empty stomach made her 
ill, poor thing. 



THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 17 

Lord Peter. You would not expect me to ad¬ 
mit a lady’s peccadillos? 

Lady Kath. It didn’t affect you? 

Lord Peter. The whisky? Not otherwise than 
to make me glad to be alive again. 

Lady Kath. (Sadly) I see you are a true 
Monahan, more’s the pity. 

Lord Peter. Why so? I’m proud of the fact. 

Lady Kath. All the Monahans have been in¬ 
temperate. The old Lord died in his cups and the 
new Lord they say will do the same. 

Lord Peter. (Indignantly) How dare they? 

Lady Kath. I have heard of his doings in Lon¬ 
don. What do you think ? The first place he asked 
to see here was the whisky-still and then he pre¬ 
sented his compliments to me. 

Lord Peter. So that was why you refused to 
see me—him? (Forgetting himself for a moment) 

Lady Kath. Certainly. 

Lord Peter. But you must see him sometime. 

Lady Kath. Not necessarily. He has given this 
wing of the castle to me, which is very nice of him, 
as I am only a poor relation and he would never 
come here. 

Lord Peter. (Embarrassed) Of course not. 

Lady Kath. He’d be afraid to. Everybody is. 

Lord Peter. (Relieved) Except you. 

Lady Kath. I have played in these rooms all 
my life and love them. Besides, I am safe from 
intrusion here. 

Lord Peter. Except from ghosts. 

Lady Kath. (With hesitation, then impulsively) 
But I couldn’t be afraid of you.. 

Lord Peter. That’s awfully nice of you. (Leans 
across table and takes her hand . Lady Katherine, 
shocked by the feeling of the warm, live hand, 
draws away, rises and steps down-stage a little. 


i8 


THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 


Lord Peter rises) By the way (Taking scarf out 
of chest) this must be yours. 

Lady Kath. Yes, I knew you had it. 

Lord Peter. Permit me. What will you give me 
for it? (Pursing lips for a kiss as he holds the 
scarf over her shoulders from behind) 

Lady Kath. Fie, Lord Peter, I believe you are 
a flirt. (Takes up flagon) Let us drink to Lady 
Katherine. 

Lord Peter. (Indifferently) Oh, very well. 

Lady Kath. You will remember this.—Dear 
me! I forgot to bring a corkscrew. 

Lord Peter. I always have one about me. (Feel¬ 
ing for pocket) It is in my other clothes. 

Lady Kath. (Surprised) Your other clothes? 

Lord Peter. Yes—um—you see, I changed to 
these for the anniversary. (Exit R.3j 

Lady Kath. Lord Peter is unlike any ghost I 
ever heard of. I certainly shall wake to find this 
all a dream. If he were only our Lord Peter. 
(With a little sigh. Lord Peter enters and opens 
the flagon) These rooms will be very lonesome 
now. I suppose you won’t come again for a hun¬ 
dred years. 

Lord Peter. Indeed I shall. But why not meet 
the new Lord? He would keep you from being 
lonely. 

Lady Kath. By making me a partner in his 
revels, I suppose. No, thank you. 

Lord Peter. (Pouring out wine) Don’t be un¬ 
reasonable. He naturally was interested in the dis¬ 
tillery because it is the chief source of income from 
the estate. 

Lady Kath. But he drinks. 

Lord Peter. So do you. (Handing her a glass 
of wine) So do I. 

Lady Kath. Not to excess, not to make beasts 
out of creatures intended for the society of angels. 


THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 19 

Lord Peter. Here’s to one of the angels. (Hold¬ 
ing his glass toward her) 

Lady Kath. Yes, Lady Katherine. (To the 
portrait) 

Lord Peter. Lady Katherine, will you not drink 
to Lord Peter also ? 

Lady Kath. Certainly. 

Lord Peter. May his life be long. May he find 
another Lady Katherine to love—and- 

Lady Kath. Oh, you mean that Lord Peter? 
(Setting down her glass) No, I couldn’t drink to 
him. 

Lord Peter. Why not? 

Lady Kath. (Sits l. of table) You should 
hear him swear as I did to-day from the stables. 

Lord Peter. Every nobleman swears. 

Lady Kath. Then give me a gentleman. 

Lord Peter. What other crimes does he com¬ 
mit ? (Sits r. of table) 

Lady Kath. He is very flirtatious. 

Lord Peter. Horrible. He must be an Irish¬ 
man. 

Lady Kath. You needn’t scoff, Lord Peter. I 
might forgive him if he weren’t vulgar about it. 

Lord Peter. Vulgar? 

Lady Kath. Yes, he chucked my maid, Moya, 
under the chin. What do you think of that? A 
fine beginning for the Lord of Monahan. 

Lord Peter. Dear Lady Katherine, he is young, 
and every Irishman loves a pretty face, but he had 
never seen yours. 

Lady Kath. What has that to do with it? 

Lord Peter. (Earnestly) Simply this— (To 
back of table, leaning toward her) —that he could 
not see you without loving you. And, loving you, 
he could do nothing to bring a frown to your beau¬ 
tiful face. 

Lady Kath. ( Quick sigh and slight embarrass- 



20 


THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 


ment; rising and crossing r. and sitting on settle, 
Lord Peter following to c.) Ah, Lord Peter, we 
do not have such lovers or such men nowadays. 

Lord Peter. Lady Katherine! 

Lady Kath. There is our own Lord Peter. Al¬ 
though he knew he was the heir, he has not visited 
Monahan since he was a boy. 

Lord Peter. But you know how the old Lord 
treated him. How could he come here? He has 
some pride. 

Lady Kath. He was not too proud to get his 
living from the estate, a heavy burden on the poor— 
and without any service of any kind in return. 

Lord Peter. He led his regiment in the great 
war. 

Lady Kath. Fighting for England. 

Lord Peter. And for all free peoples every¬ 
where. For democracy. 

Lady Kath. (Bitterly) Free, did you say? 
What about Ireland? Oppressed from within and 
without. What will become of Ireland when her 
own sons, her natural leaders, live abroad in luxury 
at her expense instead of giving their lives if neces¬ 
sary in her service? 

Lord Peter. Perhaps Lord Peter has never 
thought of that. He is young. He will learn. You 
must help him. 

Lady Kath. That is impossible, I fear. Think 
of his inheritance. (Very earnestly) Do you not 
know all the wretchedness that has come upon Mona¬ 
han in retribution for your violent death? Her 
daughters have gone mad. Her sons have rioted 
in drunkenness and crime. The estate has been 
drained to its last sovereign to support her reckless 
Loids, the beautiful land lies idle, the tenants are 
starving, and nothing but the distillery, that breeder 
of misery, is allowed to flourish. Do you wonder 
that 1 refuse to meet the new Lord, and am glad of 


THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 


21 


the excuse of madness to roam through these apart¬ 
ments and live in the glories of a vanished age ? 

Lord Peter. (Relieved to change the subject, 
leaning toward her from back of settle) Then let 
us live in the glories of a vanished age. 

Lady Kath. (Slyly) Tell me how you wooed 
Lady Katherine. 

Lord Peter. I could show you better. Will you 
play Lady Katherine? I can’t do it alone, you 
know. 

Lady Kath. (Hesitatingly) Yes,—if you’ll be 
good. 

Lord Peter. How could a ghost be otherwise? 

Lady Kath. You don’t seem a bit like a ghost.— 
You’ll have to show me. 

Lord Peter. (Taking her by the hands and lead¬ 
ing her to center) Trust an Irishman for that, dead 
or alive. (Business of trying to kiss her. She slips 
by and goes l.) You’re not playing fair. 

Lady Kath. Oh, yes, I am. I know that Lady 
Katherine would not be so ready with her favors. 
You had to win them by worthy service. 

Lord Peter. Quite true, but I cannot go out and 
fight battles for you at this moment. I can only 
show you results. 

Lady Kath. The results then. What did you 
do the first night that you climbed the balcony? 

Lord Peter. I led her to this settle by the fire. 
Ah, that was the happiest moment in our lives. 
(Here he assumes the old-time, deferential gallan¬ 
try of manner to which Lady Katherine yields, 
but not without diffidence . He leads her after the 
manner of the minuet. They sit on the settle, he 
taking corner l. ; she leaning against him and both 
gazing into the fire which lights up their faces) I 
took her soft, white hand in mine and kissed it and 
laid her head upon my shoulder, so. (With great 
sincerity, as if a new sense of manhood and pro- 


22 


THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 


tection possessed him) And here in the fire¬ 
light we pledged eternal faithfulness in life and 
death and sealed it with a kiss. (Business. Lady 
Katherine, who has yielded to this under the spell 
of the moment, now suffers a revulsion of feeling, 
caused by both the unusual situation and the terri¬ 
fying power of suddenly awakened womanhood in 
a young and innocent girl. She rises and starts 
aivay. Lord Peter rises and gently restrains her) 
Did I offend you, little one? 

Lady Kath. (l.) You should not have done 
it, Lord Peter. I shall never be happy again. 
(Sobbing and burying her face in her hands) The 
curse of the house of Monahan has fallen upon me. 
Now I know why there cannot be a happy union in 
this castle, why the daughters of Monahan have 
gone mad. 

Lord Peter. (In great surprise) Lady Kath¬ 
erine ! 

Lady Kath. (Turning upon him) It is you who 
have destroyed their peace, but you shall not wreck 
my life as you did theirs. I will leave this castle 
to-morrow and never return to it again. (Starting 
to go) 

Lord Peter. Lady Katherine. At least you will 
permit me to apologize. 

Lady Kath. (Pathetically) What is the use 
of that? You cannot take it back. And I shall 
never forget. 

Lord Peter. I do not wish to take it back. It is 
the kiss of true love, the harbinger of great happi¬ 
ness to come. 

Lady Kath. (In great surprise) What are you 
saying, Lord Peter? 

Lord Peter. The spirit of Lady Katherine has 
entered into the new Lord of Monahan and this is 
the sign whereby you shall know it. The house shall 
be restored to its ancient honor, rioting and drunken- 


THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 


23 

ness shall be stopped, the land shall be cultivated, 
the condition of the tenantry improved. 

Lady Kath. Do you speak truly. Lord Peter? 

Lord Peter. I do. But the success of the refor¬ 
mation lies in your two little hands. 

Lady Kath. How so? 

Lord Peter. Lord Peter will need your pres¬ 
ence, your encouragement and advice. 

Lady Kath. I cannot stay here now. 

(Enter Hogan l., with a lantern, drunk.) 

Hogan. Heaven defend my poor masther and 
keep away the evil spirits. (Seeing the two cos¬ 
tumed figures, he falls on his knees with a cry of 
terror) The saints be merciful to us! Has pur- 
gathory let loose? 

Lady Kath. (In an incredulous whisper) Ho¬ 
gan ! 

Hogan. She knows me. The same, your Lady¬ 
ship. 

Lord Peter. (In his natural voice) Don’t be 
frightened, Hogan, it’s all right. 

Hogan. Is that you, Lord Peter? The saints 
be praised. Faith, if I didn’t take the two of ye 
for a pair of ghosts in those costumes. 

Lady Kath. (Dumbfounded, in a whisper) The 
new Lord, what will become of me? 

Lord Peter. ( Seeing the cause of her distress, 
quietly to her) Don’t worry, I’ll save your good 
name. (To HoganJ Yes, Hogan, and I am en¬ 
tirely safe, even if I have been entertaining the 
ghost of Lady Katherine. (Takes her hand and 
leads her toward Hogan ) 

Hogan. That’s near enough, Lord Peter/ I’ll 
lave you to the enj’yment of your heavenly visitor. 

Lord Peter. Wait! Before you go, you must 
hear the message that she brings. She is much dis- 


24 


THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 


pleased with the drunkenness and other vices of 
Monahan and threatens to visit every room in this 
house, and every cottage in the demesne unless they 
are corrected at once. (This speech is punctuated 
by groans from Hogan. “No, no, not that, Lord 
Peter,” etc.) I have assured her that I shall insist 
upon immediate reforms, and I expect you to help 
me to carry them out. 

Hogan. That I will, Lord Peter. 

Lord Peter. You may go, the saints preserve 
you. 

Hogan. Amen to that! Don’t let her follow 
me. 

Lord Peter. Very well, if you will promise not 
to take another drop for a month at least. 

Hogan. I will that, Lord Peter. (Exit hastily; 
quick footsteps heard down hall) 

Lord Peter. (Pleased with himself, looking after 
Hogan and laughing, then turning to Lady Kath¬ 
erine ) The good work has begun and will con¬ 
tinue as long as I can hold the ghost over them. 

Lady Kath. (Who has been standing with 
face averted; now turning upon him with great in¬ 
dignation ) How could you fool me so? How could 
you do it? How could I have been so deceived? 
But I have lived in the clouds so long, I have 
shunned the society of men. Even now, I expect to 
wake and find this all a bad dream. If it only were 
a dream. I believed so fully in ghosts and then 
you appeared, and in that costume, to-night of all 
nights. Oh, I cannot forgive you. 

Lord Peter. I had no idea that you frequented 
these rooms. What could I do? You seemed so 
pleased to think me old Lord Peter. I feared to 
frighten you by a confession, especially after your 
compliments concerning my character. 

Lady Kath. A proper rebuke for your mas¬ 
querade. 


THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 


25 

Lord Peter. Quite right, but I mean to earn a 
better opinion. 

Lady Kath. Then we have not met in vain. 
(Turns to go) 

Lord Peter. (Very earnestly) Lady Katherine, 
you must not leave me like this. You are the only 
woman who has ever given me a worthy ambition 
—a thought beyond my personal pleasure. When 
I held you in my arms just now, I was filled with 
the desire to help, to protect, not only you, my 
lonely little cousin, but all our people. May I not 
be your big brother until I have shown myself 
worthy to be something more to you? You must 
not live in the clouds any longer, or you will go the 
way of the other Monahan women. Do you not need 
me, little sister? 

Lady Kath. (Simply and pathetically) Oh, 
yes, T do, big brother, but you must give me time and 
show me that you are in earnest. 

Lord Peter. Mavourneen. (Embraces her gent¬ 
ly l.c. A ghostly figure like that in the picture, 
clothed all in chiffons, is seen through the screen 
portrait, with hands raised as in benediction) 


CURTAIN 


PROPERTIES 


Old Chest—up c., containing man’s costume 
of the Second Empire. 

Platform—same height, inside of opening, 
back of panel. 

Black Draperies, around platform, making a 
closet. 

Draped portieres in front of closet, back of 
panel—same color as those in portrait. 

Old wine flagon inside of this closet, corked 
—contains wine. 

Settle, high-backed, above fireplace and at 
right angles to it. 

Fireplace R. at c. with high mantel and chim¬ 
ney. 

Andirons and wood for fire (logs) ready to 
place, with kindling. 

Suitable ornaments on mantel. 

Table l.c. with whiskey decanter and two 
glasses on tray, cigars, matches and ash-tray. 

High-backed, or Windsor chairs, right and 
left of table. 

Small table up l., with branch candlestick and 
candles to light. 

Portiere for door R.3. 

Rug for floor. 

SIDE PROPS— 

Off-stage— r.i —Arm ring of old-fashioned 
keys, one of which fits the door. 

26 



THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 


27 

Candle and lantern to be lighted for Hogan. 

R-3—Corkscrew for Lord Peter. 

Up l. —Covered basket containing small table¬ 
cloth, two napkins, two knives and forks, a 
large fork and spoon for salad, dish of salad, 
plate of thin bread and butter, spread, two wine¬ 
glasses. 

Off L. —Thunder-drum, wind machine, rain 
effect, effect of birds disturbed and fluttering 
about (rooks), Cathedral clock bell to strike 
twelve, should be deep-toned and distant. 

PROP CUES— 

At rise of curtain l. —clock strikes twelve. 
Also low wind and rain and distant thunder, 
till Hogan’s entrance. Off r., approaching foot¬ 
steps of two men, growing louder till clock 
stops. 

As Hogan sets down candle on table, bird 
sounds off l. 

“You’re a fool—yes, Lord Peter”—Wind 
rises a little. 

“Faithfully all your life”—Rumble of thun¬ 
der—low. 

“That is all poppycock”—Low wind and 
thunder. 

“Defy all the ghosts in Christendom”—Crash 
of thunder, loud wind and rain. 

At Hogan’s exit with Lord Peter—receding 
footsteps trailing off R. 

At Lord Peter’s next exit—off L.3—slip panel 
at back c. aside for Lady Katherine’s entrance. 

As she presses button, let it slide back into 
place again. 

“In honor of the anniversary”—approaching 
footsteps of Lord Peter off r.i. 

“Live for many loves than die for one”— 
rumble of thunder. 


28 


THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 


As Lady Katherine touches spring—slide 
panel hack. 

When she touches it again—close panel. 

At Hogan’s exit—hurried footsteps off R. 

LIGHTS— 

At l. below window, green flood on dimmer, 
for moonlight, trained to hit the painted panel 
at c. back. 

Lightning for flutter and flash— off L. 

At R. Glow for fireplace on dimmer strong 
enough to cast horizontal shadows. 

Baby flood, same medium, trained on settle, 
below fireplare, on same dimmer. 

Ambers in foots and borders on dimmer. 
(These are never used except for candle-light.) 

Strip lights around back of opening at c. 
Back, with green lamps to simulate ghost light. 
Could be violet. 

LIGHT CUES— 

At rise of curtain—all lights out. Flicker of 
lightning off l. 

At Hogan’s entrance with candle,—foots and 
borders part up. 

“I hope so, Lord Peter’'—distant lightning. 

“That is all poppycock.” Start to bring up 
green flood l. very slowly to half light. 

“Defy all the ghosts of Christendom”—vivid 
lightning. 

“Troubled ghost of poor old Lady Kather¬ 
ine.” Shadow of swaying tree in the moon¬ 
light passes over picture. Commence to pull 
down dimmer on flood until it is gone at exit 
of Lord Peter and Hogan, when all lights go 
out. Then bring up green flood slowly till it 
shines full on Lady Katherine, coming through 
Centre opening. 


THE HAUNTED CHAMBER 


29 

At entrance of Lord Peter with candle, r.i, 
foots and borders part up. 

As Lord Peter strikes match at fireplace r.—— 
up with the red glow and baby spot down r. 

At exit of Lord Peter R.3 with candle, out 
with foots and borders. 

As Lady Katherine lights candelabra, up with 
foots and borders a little higher than before. 

At Hogan’s exit, begin to come down with 
green flood, fireplace glow and baby spot, also 
foots and borders, letting them fade out for 
the vision at back, as Lady Katherine says: 

“Show me that you are in earnest,” and Lord 
Peter answers: “Mavourneen.” At this bring 
on the ghost light around the panel at back. 

CURTAIN 

First call—same picture. 

Second call—foots and borders, half on, 
floods, and fire-light. 





















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